North Carolina Health Officials Lift Freeze on Medicaid Adult Care Program

North Carolina health officials on June 26 announced they are reopening enrollment in a Medicaid adult care program a move that will allow more elderly and disabled adults to qualify for home health services, the Raleigh News & Observer reports. In October 2001, officials froze enrollment in the $194 million Community Alternatives Program for Disabled Adults because the program had a $19 million budget deficit. At that time, approximately 10,200 people were enrolled in the program, which gives participants at-home assistance with meals and personal care, as well as providing medical supplies to help disabled adults stay in their homes instead of moving to nursing homes. Since October, about 200 participants have left the program each month because they have moved out of state, transferred to elder care facilities or died. Because of open slots, state Medicaid officials now will permit between 150 and 175 new applicants to enroll each month beginning in August. State Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Carmen Hooker Odom said, "It's going to be managed very carefully so we don't exceed our budget, and if things get rosier in terms of our ability to add more slots, we'll do that" (Wilson, Raleigh News & Observer, 6/27).